UX Designer II, All Recipes

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer II, All Recipes Company: Dotdash Meredith Location: New York, NY - 225 Liberty Street OR Seattle, WA - 1001 Fourth Ave, Suite 1500 Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: User Experience Design (UX) / Product Design Date Posted: August 13, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Level (4-7 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is focused on enhancing digital experiences for food-focused brands like Allrecipes and MyRecipes, requiring a strong user-centric design approach.
• The UX Designer II will be instrumental in translating user needs and business requirements into intuitive and engaging product interfaces.
• Key responsibilities include collaborating with product management and engineering teams to rapidly iterate on product definitions and deliver new features.
• The position emphasizes user research, usability testing, and the development of wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups to ensure best-in-class user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "UX Designer II," the responsibilities and experience requirements suggest a mid-level role that bridges the gap between junior and senior UX professionals, requiring a solid foundation in core UX principles and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision on defined projects. The emphasis on rapid iteration and collaboration with product/engineering points towards a role within an Agile or Lean development environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Crafting user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups based on business requirements, user stories, and available data.
• Collaborating closely with UX Researchers to validate design assumptions, conduct usability testing, and analyze user data to inform design decisions.
• Presenting design solutions effectively to a diverse range of stakeholders, building consensus and championing the user's perspective.
• Participating in and leading brainstorming sessions and design critiques to foster innovative thinking and elevate the quality of detailed design elements.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of UX best practices across the broader UX team.
• Designing for accessibility (A11y) and WCAG compliance, promoting awareness and accountability for inclusive digital products.
• Translating user needs and business requirements into concrete design concepts, wireframes, and mockups for mass-market web and mobile products.
• Building interactive prototypes for validating design decisions with target users.
• Applying creative problem-solving skills to the design of systems, processes, and tooling.
• Documenting design guidelines and sharing knowledge with engineering teams to ensure timely and accurate product delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution (designing, prototyping) and collaborative effort (research validation, stakeholder presentations, team best practices). The expectation to "raise the bar on the details" and "apply creative problem solving to the design, processes, and tooling of the system itself" indicates a desire for a proactive designer who not only executes but also optimizes the design process and its underlying components.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 4-7 years of progressive experience as a UX Designer, with a strong focus on mass-market web and mobile products.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in user experience design principles and methodologies.
• Strong proficiency in user research techniques, including qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Demonstrated experience with usability testing, identifying pain points, and iterating on designs.
• Solid interaction design skills, creating intuitive and efficient user journeys.
• Experience in planning, designing, and building interactive prototypes for user validation using tools like Figma.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for clear articulation of design concepts and stakeholder engagement.
• Familiarity with atomic design methodology and an understanding of the challenges associated with building and maintaining design systems.
• Expertise in UX software, with a strong preference for Figma.
• A thorough understanding of user-centered design principles and testing methodologies.
• Knowledge of usability and accessibility concerns, including WCAG guidelines.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders distributed geographically.

Preferred Skills:

• Basic HTML and CSS skills, which are considered a significant plus for understanding implementation constraints.
• Experience with design systems and contributing to their evolution.
• Familiarity with content strategy and its impact on user experience within digital publishing.
• Experience in the digital media, publishing, or e-commerce industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for Figma expertise and the "big plus" for HTML/CSS skills suggest that while the role is primarily design-focused, a foundational understanding of front-end development is highly valued for better collaboration with engineering and for creating more feasible designs. The emphasis on atomic design and design systems points towards a need for a designer who can think systematically and contribute to scalable design solutions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 4-7 relevant projects demonstrating end-to-end UX design process.
• Projects should highlight a strong understanding of user research, wireframing, prototyping, interaction design, and final UI mockups for web and mobile platforms.
• Demonstrable experience with Figma is crucial, showcasing proficiency in creating interactive prototypes and high-fidelity designs.
• Evidence of user-centered design thinking, including how user needs and business goals were balanced.
• Examples of collaboration with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of user flows, site maps, or information architecture diagrams created for past projects.
• Include case studies that detail the problem, your process, your role, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes of your design solutions.
• Demonstrate how you've incorporated user feedback and research findings into iterative design improvements.
• Evidence of contributions to or understanding of design systems, including component libraries or style guides.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this mid-level role, the portfolio should not only display polished final designs but also the thought process behind them. Candidates are expected to articulate the "why" behind their design decisions, demonstrating their ability to solve problems and deliver tangible user value. A strong emphasis will be placed on the candidate's ability to communicate their design process clearly and concisely.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• New York, NY: $90,000 - $105,000 per year
• Seattle, WA: $90,000 - $105,000 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Prescription Drug Coverage.
• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) for a flexible work-life balance.
• Adoption or Surrogate Assistance programs.
• Donation Matching initiatives to support charitable causes.
• Tuition Reimbursement for continued education and professional development.
• Basic Life Insurance and Basic Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage.
• Supplemental Life Insurance and Supplemental Accident Insurance options.
• Commuter Benefits to assist with transportation costs.
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability coverage.
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare expenses.
• Family Care Benefits.
• A generous 401K savings plan with a company match program.
• 10-12 Paid Holidays annually.
• Generous Paid Parental Leave for both birthing and non-birthing parents.
• Voluntary Benefits such as pet insurance, accident, critical, and hospital indemnity health insurance.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected to meet project deadlines and collaborate with geographically distributed teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a UX Designer II role in both New York and Seattle markets, reflecting the cost of living and demand for skilled design professionals. The extensive benefits package, particularly unlimited PTO and robust parental leave, indicates a company culture that prioritizes employee well-being and work-life integration, which is attractive to operations professionals seeking stability and support.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Publishing and Media. Dotdash Meredith is a leading publisher with a vast portfolio of iconic brands, reaching a significant portion of the US population. This industry context means a fast-paced, content-driven environment where user engagement and data-informed decisions are paramount.

Company Size: Large (Dotdash Meredith is a significant player in the media landscape, implying a structured organization with established processes but also opportunities for impact). This size often means access to extensive resources and established best practices, but also requires navigating larger organizational structures.

Founded: Dotdash Meredith was formed in late 2021 through the merger of Meredith Corporation's National Media Group and Dotdash. Meredith Corporation itself has a long history dating back to 1902, bringing a legacy of publishing expertise. This blend of established legacy and modern digital focus shapes the company's operational approach.

Team Structure:

• The UX Designer II will likely be part of a larger UX/Product Design team, potentially structured around specific brands or product verticals (like Food, Home, Health).
• This role will report into a UX Lead or Director, and will work closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and other UX Designers.
• Cross-functional collaboration is key, involving frequent interaction with editorial teams, marketing, and data analytics to ensure a holistic product strategy.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Expect a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, leveraging analytics to understand user behavior, identify trends, and measure the impact of design changes.
• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The role involves contributing to and adhering to established UX workflows, with opportunities to suggest improvements for efficiency and effectiveness. Agile methodologies are likely employed.
• Automation & Efficiency: While not a direct automation role, the designer will work with systems and tools that aim for efficiency, potentially contributing to design systems that streamline development and ensure consistency.

Company Website: https://www.dotdashmeredith.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Dotdash Meredith's position as a major digital publisher suggests a culture that values content quality, user engagement, and data-informed product development. The company's scale means that a UX Designer II can influence significant user bases while benefiting from established processes and resources. The emphasis on data and collaboration is crucial for operations professionals to understand how their design work contributes to broader business objectives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level UX Designer. This position is designed for an individual who has moved beyond foundational tasks and can independently manage significant design projects, contribute to strategic discussions, and mentor more junior designers.

Reporting Structure: The UX Designer II will typically report to a UX Manager or Director, working within a product team that includes Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially UX Researchers. This structure allows for clear direction and collaboration within a project-focused environment.

Operations Impact: The UX Designer II directly impacts the company's success by improving user engagement, conversion rates, and overall satisfaction with digital products like Allrecipes and MyRecipes. Effective UX design contributes to increased ad revenue, subscription growth, and brand loyalty by creating seamless and enjoyable user experiences.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized areas like design systems, accessibility, user research methodologies, or product strategy.
• Leadership Development: Potential to take on lead roles on larger projects, mentor junior designers, and contribute to defining UX best practices and standards within the organization.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining broader experience by working across different brands or product verticals within Dotdash Meredith, understanding diverse user needs and business models.
• Specialization: Possibility to specialize in areas such as UX research, interaction design, or visual design, depending on career interests and company needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an operations-minded candidate, this role offers a clear path for growth within a large, established media company. The opportunity to influence user experience for highly trafficked sites like Allrecipes provides significant visibility and impact. The emphasis on collaboration and data-driven design aligns well with operational efficiency and strategic planning.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The role is based in either the New York, NY or Seattle, WA offices.

Office Location(s):

• New York, NY: 225 Liberty Street
• Seattle, WA: 1001 Fourth Ave, Suite 1500

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is likely collaborative and dynamic, typical of media and tech companies.
• Expect modern office spaces designed to foster teamwork, with access to necessary design tools and technology.
• Opportunities for informal and formal interactions with colleagues across design, product, and engineering teams.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with the expectation of flexibility to meet project timelines and deadlines. The on-site nature facilitates real-time collaboration and team integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement to be on-site in either New York or Seattle suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, which can be beneficial for rapid iteration and team cohesion in a design-focused role. Understanding the office culture and available resources will be key for candidates during the interview process.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios to assess basic qualifications and fit.
• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, their design process, user research insights, and problem-solving approaches. This stage often includes technical questions related to UX principles, tools, and methodologies.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and potentially other UX Designers to evaluate collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to work within a team environment.
• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership (e.g., Head of Product, Director of UX) to assess strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall potential impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Process: Clearly articulate your design process for each project, emphasizing how you identified problems, conducted research, iterated on solutions, and measured outcomes.
• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to demonstrate your skills within Figma, explaining your workflow and any custom components or libraries you've utilized.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or data that demonstrate the positive impact of your design solutions (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased user satisfaction).
• Tell a Story: Frame your projects as compelling narratives, detailing the challenges, your role, the decisions made, and the lessons learned.
• Address Accessibility: If applicable, highlight projects where you focused on accessibility and how you implemented WCAG guidelines.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design exercise or a take-home challenge that simulates a real-world problem. This might involve redesigning a feature, creating a user flow for a new functionality, or solving a usability issue.
• Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach, user-centric thinking, and ability to communicate your design rationale clearly.
• Practice presenting your work concisely and effectively, anticipating questions about your choices and trade-offs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss not just the final visual output but the strategic thinking and user advocacy that informed their designs. Demonstrating an understanding of business goals alongside user needs will be crucial. The portfolio review is a critical component, so ensure it is well-organized, visually appealing, and clearly articulates your contributions and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design. Expect to use its advanced features for component creation, collaboration, and interactive prototyping.
• User Research Tools: Proficiency with tools for usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback) and data analysis (e.g., Google Analytics, Hotjar) is highly desirable.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics: For understanding website traffic, user behavior, and conversion funnels.
• Hotjar/Similar: For heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback analysis.
• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that help interpret and present data insights (e.g., Tableau, Looker) is a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM systems, understanding how design impacts CRM data capture and user journeys is beneficial. Familiarity with marketing automation concepts can also aid in understanding the broader user lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with Figma is a hard requirement. A strong understanding of analytics tools like Google Analytics is also vital, as this role is expected to be data-informed. Candidates who can demonstrate how their designs lead to measurable improvements (tracked via analytics) will have a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental belief in prioritizing the needs and experiences of the user in all design decisions.
• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and shared ownership across product, engineering, and editorial teams.
• Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by user research, analytics, and performance metrics, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Efficiency & Iteration: A commitment to agile processes, rapid prototyping, and iterative design to deliver value quickly and adapt to user feedback.
• Accessibility & Inclusivity: A dedication to creating digital products that are usable and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of ability.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with Product Managers to define requirements and roadmaps, and with Engineers to ensure designs are feasible and implemented correctly.
• Feedback Exchange: A culture that encourages constructive feedback during design reviews and critiques, promoting learning and design excellence.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design patterns, and user insights across the UX team and wider organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values align with operational best practices, emphasizing data-driven decisions, efficiency, and collaborative problem-solving. Candidates who can demonstrate these attributes in their past roles will likely resonate well with the team's culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively navigating the trade-offs between creating ideal user experiences and meeting business objectives, such as monetization and content promotion.
• Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: The need to quickly produce high-quality designs and adapt to changing priorities in a dynamic digital publishing landscape.
• Maintaining Design Consistency Across Brands: Ensuring a cohesive user experience and brand identity across multiple distinct digital properties like Allrecipes and MyRecipes.
• Advocating for UX Best Practices: Championing user-centered design principles and accessibility standards within a cross-functional team that may have varying levels of UX awareness.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering Design Systems: Opportunity to contribute to and deepen understanding of design system principles and implementation, enhancing efficiency and scalability.
• Accessibility Expertise: Developing specialized knowledge in digital accessibility (A11y) and WCAG compliance.
• Data Analysis Skills: Enhancing ability to interpret user data and leverage analytics for design decision-making.
• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of the latest UX trends, tools, and best practices within the digital media and publishing sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents opportunities to tackle complex design challenges within a large organization, offering significant learning potential in areas critical to modern digital product development. Candidates who are proactive in identifying and addressing these challenges will find ample room for professional growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Walk us through a complex UX project from conception to launch. What was your process, what were the key decisions you made, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on user research, iteration, and problem-solving.)
• Collaboration: "Describe a time you had to collaborate with a difficult stakeholder or engineer. How did you manage the relationship and ensure the best user experience?" (Highlight communication and negotiation skills.)
• Problem-Solving: "Imagine our Allrecipes app has a high drop-off rate during the recipe saving process. How would you approach diagnosing and solving this problem?" (Demonstrate analytical thinking and a structured approach to UX challenges.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about designing for food-focused brands like Allrecipes?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of the target audience.)
• "How do you stay updated on the latest UX trends and best practices, especially in the digital publishing space?" (Demonstrate continuous learning.)
• "Describe your experience working in an Agile environment. How do you handle feedback and iterate on designs within sprints?" (Align with the company's likely development methodology.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio into 3-4 strong case studies that best represent your skills and experience. For each, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the results.
• Figma Deep Dive: Be prepared to share your Figma files, walk through your component libraries, and demonstrate interactive prototypes. Explain your design system thinking.
• Data Integration: Present how you used data (user research, analytics) to inform your design decisions and measure success. Quantify impact whenever possible.
• Conciseness: Practice your presentations to ensure they are engaging, informative, and stay within the allocated time. Focus on the most impactful aspects of each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to articulate your design decisions with a focus on user needs and business impact. Emphasize your ability to collaborate effectively and adapt within a fast-paced environment. A well-prepared portfolio presentation that clearly demonstrates your process and results will be critical for success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer II position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Dotdash Meredith careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects relevant to web and mobile design, ideally showcasing experience with content-rich platforms or consumer-facing applications. Highlight your proficiency with Figma and any experience with design systems.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords such as "User Experience Design," "User Research," "Usability Testing," "Interaction Design," "Prototyping," "Figma," "Web Design," "Mobile Design," and "Accessibility." Quantify your achievements with specific metrics whenever possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and problem-solving approaches. Be ready to discuss your portfolio projects in detail and prepare for potential design challenges.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Dotdash Meredith's brands, particularly Allrecipes and MyRecipes, to understand their target audience and current digital offerings. Research the company's mission and values to demonstrate cultural fit.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.